Luren, 1908-1917
- 1909: J. J. Hopperstad again takes up the baton as director in March, serving until 1911.
- 1910: In July the Luren singing Society is incorporated as a legal entity in the state of Iowa, and a new set of by-laws replace the 1885 document.
- The “Old Guard” gradually passes from leadership; new members join, and with a “heavy, self-conscious spirit of Norwegian nationalism” Luren grows.
- 1911: Professor Carlo A. Sperati agrees on March 14 to resume the position of director, after 25 years absence. Thus begins the Sperati Era, to last a third of a century.
- A Digression: Sperati was the name of a family of musicians who lived in Italy in the late 18th century. Sperati’s parents moved to Christiania (Oslo) in 1850, where his father became musical director of the Christiania Theater. Son Carlo went to navigation school, took his pilot’s examination in 1882 and left Norway shortly after, enrolling in Luther College in 1885. Completing Luther Seminary in 1891, he headed for a parish in Washington state, stopping at Decorah to marry Miss Emma Hoffoss. In 1905 he returned to Decorah to become musical director at Luther College.
- The Sperati Years: Luren returns to the spirit of its early years – festivity and fellowship, becoming once again the social and musical club of Decorah’s Norwegian-Americans. “The men did the singing, but the social life was for the whole family.” The life of Luren focuses upon its own events, with no Sangerfest participation for over 25 years.
- 1913: Luren performs with the Choral Union Orchestra, also directed by Professor Sperati.
- 1914: On March 17, a joy-filled celebration of Luren’s 40th anniversary (figuring from 1874) centers on a concert and banquet in Marsh’s Hall, with a crowd of between 200-300, each paying $0.50 to attend. All the old-timers are invited, and the program offers “songs in English and Norwegian, solos, speeches … hurrahs galore.” A history of Luren from 1874-1914 is presented by the Reverend Th. Nilsson.
